The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery is used to reduce stomach size and spur weight loss in people who are significantly overweight. The Roux-en-Y procedure can be performed as minimally-invasive surgery or as open surgery, depending on the condition of the patient. Over 121,000 weight loss surgeries were performed in the United States in 2004, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Bypass Candidates
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity increases the risk of developing high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, infertility, heart disease, osteoarthritis, some forms of cancer, respiratory conditions, gallbladder disease and liver disease. While losing weight can reduce these risks, it can be hard for some people to lose weight on their own. Roux-en-Y surgery is recommended for patients who are 75 pounds or more overweight and have a medical condition affected by obesity, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. People who are 100 pounds or more overweight and have no other conditions may also be approved for the surgery.
The Procedure
During Roux-en-Y surgery, your doctor isolates the top of your stomach from the rest of your stomach with a series of staples. The staples create a small pouch, which will then be the only part of the stomach that you will use. This pouch is connected directly to the small intestine, bypassing the lower part of the stomach. Because the usable area of the stomach is much smaller after the procedure, you won't be able to eat as much and won't absorb as many calories. Bypass surgery can be done as an open surgical procedure or can be performed laparascopically. During laparascopic surgery, several small incisions are made in the abdomen. A tiny camera and surgical instruments are passed through the incisions, allowing your doctor to perform the surgery while watching his progress on a video monitor.
Recovery
It will take some time following surgery until you can eat solid food. For the first 2 or 3 days after surgery, you won't be able to eat all. You will be placed on a liquid diet at a first, progressing to soft foods and then a full range of foods. You may remain in the hospital for 3 to 5 days following surgery and will need to recover at home for 3 or more weeks. During the first 3 to 6 months, weight loss may be dramatic. During this time, you may feel tired and achy, notice dry skin, have mood swings and experience thinning hair. These symptoms occur due to the rapid weight loss that you are undergoing.
Dumping Syndrome
Dumping syndrome is a problem that people who have had gastric bypass surgery experience when they eat sugary foods or high calorie foods. Because these foods enter the intestines more quickly than they did when your entire stomach was being used, diarrhea, nausea and weakness can occur. Limiting these foods or avoiding them completely can help you prevent or reduce the chance of this problem occurring.
Maintaining Weight Loss
While your new stomach size will encourage you to eat less, you will also need to make some changes in order to maintain your new weight. Your doctor may recommend that you eat small meals 6 times per day, rather than 3 large meals. Because you will only be eating a small amount at each meal it is important that the foods you select contain the protein and nutrients you need to remain healthy. Your doctor may suggest that you take vitamin and nutritional supplements in addition to eating healthy foods. Exercise can not only help you maintain your weight, but will help prevent muscle loss during the period of time following surgery when you are rapidly losing weight.
